Boardwalk Empire - 2043.4 - Sawyer Silk Award

[Joshua Biddle]

Juan Rivera Wins Sawyer Silk, CF Golden Bat Awards

The trophy case keeps expanding for Atlantic City Gamblers' outfielder Juan Rivera. For the second consecutive season, Rivera won the prestigious Johnson League Johnson League Sawyer Silk Sliver Slugger Trophy, and also secured a Johnson League Golden Bat Award for the second straight season. Last year, Rivera won the Golden Bat Award for Right Field, with this year's Golden Bat Award being for Center Field.

Rivera finished the 2042 season hitting .322/.410/.696 with 137 runs scored, 40 doubles, 2 triples, 61 home runs, 157 RBIs, 33 stolen bases in 37 attempts (.891 success rate), and an 8.4 WAR in 709 plate appearances. He tied for the 1st in the BBA in home runs (61), 1st in the BBA in RBIs (157), 4th in the Johnson League in on-base percentage (.410), 1st in the BBA in slugging percentage (.696), 2nd in the BBA / 1st in the Johnson League in OPS (1.107), 3rd in the BBA / 1st in the Johnson League in WAR (8.4), 6th in the BBA / 4th in the Johnson League in runs scored (137), tied for 5th in the BBA / tied for 4th in the Johnson League in extra base hits (103), 1st in the BBA in isolated power (.375), and 1st in the BBA in OPS+ (174). Rivera managed to maintain his production and win the awards despite some injury troubles in September. Rivera suffered a sprained wrist on 09/05/2042, also suffering a setback in mid-September. He played through the pain, and helped the Gamblers make a late season surge which put Atlantic City right back in the thick of the playoff race, though ultimately falling short of the final wildcard spot by one game.

"I'm blown away by the season I was able to put together," Rivera said, "I'm looking forward to trying to do it all again next year."

On his goals for next year, Rivera said, "stay healthy. Mash. And most importantly, do our best as a team to make the playoffs and bring a championship back home to Atlantic City. Would love to add a ring to the trophy case more than anything."